The summer ahead will be one of the biggest in the history of Welsh football.

Gareth Bale and the Wales national team face off against England in Euro 2016, while Swansea City face a number of big decisions on what direction they should take the club in.

Rumours of returns for ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and current Anfield star Joe Allen are rife.

So who better to deliver the verdict on the key issues ahead that Ian Rush, a man who closely watched the progress of those two at Liverpool and who is still his country’s record goalscorer.

Speaking at the Cardiff leg of Carlsberg’s UEFA EURO 2016™ trophy tour, the most prolific goal getter of his generation also told us why England’s battery of strikers have been so good this season and what Wales can do to stop them.

He also tells critics to appreciate Aaron Ramsey more as part of our fascinating Q&A...

Carlsberg Euro Trophy 2016 at Cardiff Castle

So Ian, the obvious place to start is England v Wales – how do you assess where the teams are at?

I think the two teams have done really well, I genuinely believe that they’ll each qualify from the group.

The draw wasn’t quite favourable, but we could have had a lot worse. When you look at England’s result against Germany, it goes to show any one of about six or seven teams could win this tournament.

France are the favourites because its in France. You look at Spain, they’re not the team they were. Germany are going to be there or thereabouts, but England have shown that they’re beatable.

I think the first game is vital, that you don’t lose, and then you go into the England game where anything can happen.

How concerned are you about the fitness of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale? Can Wales compete without them?

Well they probably won’t feature in the Ukraine or Sweden friendlies, which is a good chance for Wales to show what they can do without them.

They’re world-class and we do need them, but the other players have got to take their chance.

Have Wales got a good chance against England?

I don’t think they’ll lose. England will be favourites because they’ve got match-winners, but if Wales win the first game I will be very confident going into the England game that they won’t lose.

What do you make of Aaron Ramsey – people are saying he’s trying to do too much in games and its costing Arsenal points. Is that fair?

Aaron Ramsey 2015/16

38 Games

7 Goals

Opta

I think he’s a great player, fantastic. People who criticise him don’t know enough in my opinion. He’s a match winner, his energy is vital and I think he’s a big part of Arsenal’s play.

It’s no coincidence that people talk about him and Barcelona, he’s one of those that could easily play in that league.

Could he walk into a top team like Barca?

Yeah, I think the way Barcelona play suits him. Aaron likes to get forward and score goals, and his sense of duty in midfield would be less there than it is at Arsenal. He would be a great pick if he went somewhere like that.

Your goal scoring record is phenomenal, so how do you assess England’s battery of strikers at the moment?

It’s incredible. You look at Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck, but Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane have stated their cases. They’re saying to the manager, ‘You’ve got to pick me!’

That’s not even including Wayne Rooney who is injured, and Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott. It’s a big decision for the manager, who he takes and who he plays.

The thing about Kane and Vardy is they’re saying at the moment they will score goals if you pick them.

Ian Rush with the Euro Trophy 2016 in Cardiff city centre

What do you think has been key to the success of Kane and Vardy? As a striker yourself can you tell us a bit about why they’ve been so good?

Confidence, really. Kane suits the way Tottenham play and Vardy has been the revelation of the season. He’s come from non-league and shown it can happen.

The thing about them is that they’re so direct, there’s no fancy stuff. When the ball’s there they’ll put the ball in the net. A lot of players these days want to walk it in, but they’re not like that.

Are they in pole position to play against Wales? Will the Welsh team fear Rooney if he gets the nod?

Well that’s the big question, do you play Rooney behind the strikers?

For me, he’s been the best Manchester United player of the last ten years. I wouldn’t want him to be playing against Wales. Not just because of his goals but because of his leadership, and he works really hard for the team.

2015/16 Goals

27

Harry Kane

17

Wayne Rooney

20

Jamie Vardy

Opta

He’s a street fighter. The one player who’ll want to beat Wales more than anyone is Rooney, that’s because of his dedication.

People talk about Vardy because of his work-ethic, do you think then that’s an underrated part of Rooney’s game?

Absolutely. Even when he’s not in his best position at Man Utd, he plays there because he works and gives 100 per cent.

We've barely even mentioned Daniel Sturridge. Two years ago he was England’s best striker, suddenly he’s nowhere near. What do you make of it?

Rush says Sturridge is 'world class' when fit (Photo: AP Photo)

If you get him fit, he’s world-class, I’ve seen that at Liverpool. For me the big ones are him and Welbeck. They’re coming back from injury and stating their case. I wouldn’t like to be Roy Hodgson. Come Tuesday you could have Welbeck scoring against Holland!

If he’s fit I’m sure Sturridge will go because he’s world-class.

Wales don’t really have those star names, but they have players who are settled and know their role in supporting Bale. Is that an advantage for Chris Coleman?

We know they’ve got. The likes of Church and Vokes, we know what to expect, they’re work horses who will give everything.

That’s the difference. England may look to have a bit more class and might get more goals but one thing you know is that the attitude will be excellent from those two.

2015/16 Goals

Simon Church

8

Sam Vokes

14

Opta

In many ways its Wales defence that have got them to the Euros, so can they be confident that they can keep England’s big-name strikers quiet?

Ashley Williams is the unsung hero. We didn’t let many goals in during qualifying because he organises the defence, and says, ‘look if we keep a clean sheet then we’ve got two players who can win us the game.’

I’ve been really impressed by the way they throw the bodies on the line, and that’s down to Ashley. He’s experienced and is getting better and better.

Ashley Williams Premier League Passes

2594

2011/12

1621

2015/16

Opta

Liverpool could benefit from those qualities, couldn’t they?

You never know. He’s 31, he’s happy where he is. He’s a big player for Swansea, and I think he could play for the top teams in the Premiership. But he looks happy there and that’s key to playing well.

Ashley Williams in action during the UEFA EURO Group B 2016 Qualifier between Wales and Belguim

When Joe Allen came on against Northern Ireland he brought so much class and quality to Wales’ midfield. You’ve watched him at Liverpool, where there’s doubt over his future. How important is he for club and country?

Joe’s frustrated by not being in the team. I’ve seen a lot of players who are happy on the bench, but the thing with Joe Allen is he’s not happy doing that. If he’s not happy then he might well want to move on.

I think he can do a great job for Liverpool. When he came on against Northern Ireland, that was the difference.

You look to Bale and Ramsey, but when they’re not there he comes off. Threading the balls through that the forwards love, never giving it away.

Joe Allen Liverpool Appearances

24

2015/16

32

2014/15

Opta

I’ve noticed the last few times he’s played for Liverpool, he’s getting in scoring positions and getting the odd goal, which he hasn’t done before.

The Euros will be big for him, to prove that he should be playing every week. For me, I hope that’s for Liverpool.

He was brought in by Brendan Rodgers for that possession brand of football, which is so different to how Jurgen Klopp likes to play. Do you think he can adapt?

At the end of the day, he can score goals. The thing is with Brendan, he was happy to never give the ball way, to get the ball from the defence and move it around the midfield.

But what I like about Joe is he knows to get a regular game these days he has to score goals. He’s done that, a few times, Christian Benteke is knocking it down and there’s Joe in the six-yard box! He wasn’t doing that under Brendan.

Playing for Wales, he looks really confident and that gives them a real boost.

What about Rodgers potentially coming back to Swansea. Do you think that’s a good move?

Only he knows. I like Brendan, I think he’s a good manager. He did well at Swansea, and it was probably time for him to move on at Liverpool but he’ll learn from that.

They say you should never go back, but I don’t believe that. I’ve done it as a player and I think its great. He can take that experience into it, but only Brendan can know that.

Brendan Rodgers' spend at Liverpool

£279.9m

Spent

He did great things there at Swansea. I think Swansea have overachieved in the last few years with Brendan and Michael Laudrup, and this is probably Swansea being Swansea this season. That’s the difference.

It looks like they’ll stay in the division, so they’ve got to start over again. They’ve got good players there, but the Premier League is getting harder and harder.

With the money in football today, with the likes of Leicester, Southampton and Stoke able to buy £10-£15 million pound players, that’s making it harder for Swansea.

Ian Rush met fans in Cardiff City Centre as part of Carlsberg’s UEFA EURO 2016™ UK trophy tour. Follow @CarlsbergUK to discover how Carlsberg will be substituting the ordinary for the extraordinary for football fans across the nation in the build-up to the tournament